Thread advancing device



1952 w. H. FURNES-S' v 2,606,358 "THREAD ADVANCING DEVICE Filed Dec. 51, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTO R. WILL/AM H. FURNESS BY i F Aug. 12, 1952 w. H. *FURNESS THREAD ADVANCING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Shae! 2 Filed Dec. 31, l

| INVENTOR.

WILL/AM H FURNESS Au 12, 1952 Hgpufl E-sg 2,606,358 I THREAD ADVANC'ING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.. 51, 1947 IN 2 I WILLIAM H. F I BY v I TOR. V N538 Patented Aug. 12, 1952 THREAD ADVANCING DEVICE William H. Furness, Haddonfield, N. J., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware I Application December 31, 1947, Serial No. 795,019

This invention relates to thread advancing devices for forming a thread store comprising a plurality of spaced turns of thread that are continually advanced in an axial direction along the cult to protect the inner parts of the devices from corrosion.

This invention has for its principal object to provide forms of thread advancing devices and arrangements thereof that overcome disadvantages and objections found in thread advancing devices and arrangements thereof of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to providev thread advancing devices in which the spacing of the turns of thread on a device is maintained uniform.

Another object of the invention is to provide thread advancing devices having improved means for preventing corrosion of internal parts of the devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide thread advancing devices that employ an economical amount of liquid for the liquid treatment of thread wound thereon.

These and other objects and advantagesof the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a form of thread advancing device embodying this invention. I

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the form of thread advancing device shown in Figure 1, the section being taken on the line A--A in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the form of thread advancing device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a view showing diagrammatically the ends of the supporting rollers and the path of the thread and the thread carrying sleeve on the form of device shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

18 Claims. (Cl. 28-71.7)

Figure 5 is an elevational view showing diagrammatically the path of the thread and the thread carryin sleeve over the supporting rollers.

Figure 6 is an elevational view with parts broken away of an arrangement comprising a plurality of thread advancing devices mounted in axial alignment on a single shaft.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the arrangement shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is'an elevational view of another arrangement of thread advancing devices.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of a further arrangement of thread advancing devices all driven by a single drive member.

Figure 10 is aperspective view with parts broken away of a form of thread carrying sleeve.

The thread advancing devices of the present invention in general comprise a carryin sleeve or sheath-like member of flexible elastic material and means for moving the wall of the sleeve or sheath-like member in a closed path and for moving a portion of the sleeve in contact with the thread in a direction having a component lengthwise of the sleeve. In embodiments of the present invention only spaced portions of the sleeve contact the thread at any time and the portions of th sleeve that are not in contact with the thread are in close proximity to the thread. The wall of the sleeve is moved in a closed path and spaced portions of the sleeve that extend lengthwise of the sleeve intermittently contact the thread. These spaced portions of the sleeve and the thread in contact therewith are moved in one direction having a component lengthwise of the sleeve and are moved or permitted to move in the opposite direction longitudinally back to their original position while they are out of contact with the thread. At least one end of the sleeve is restrained from longitudinal movement and the portions of the sleeve are moved longitudinally by stretching portions of the sleeve in that direction. The sleeve encloses internal parts of the thread advancing device and prevents the entrance of fluids thereto and serves to maintain fluid applied to the devic in contact with thread wound thereon.

In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawing, the sleeve member is substantially cylindrical and is positively rotated about its axis over a plurality of roller members that are canted with respect to the axis of the sleeve. The roller members are rotatable about their own axes and are also rotated about the axis of the sleeve. The portions of the sleeve in engagement with the rollers are in contact with the thread and the portions of the sleeve between the rollers are out of contact with the thread. The portions of the sleeve in engagement with the rollers and the thread in contact therewith are moved in a direction lengthwise of the sleeve and portions of the sleeve between an end of the sleeve that is restrained and the adjacent ends of the rollers are stretched lengthwise. As the portionsjof the sleeve pass beyond the rollers and out of contact with the thread, they move back to their former positions.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 inclusiv of the drawings, reference character 2 indicates a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing 3 of the stationary support 4. The hollow shaft has formed integral therewith or fixed thereto at one end an enlarged section comprising an annular portion 5, the inner and outer walls of whichare concentric to the hollow shaft. A'plate member 6 having an integral stub portion 1 is fixed to the" enlarged section, and a cap member 8 having an annular axially extending flange 9 is fixed to the stub portion. The inner and outer walls of the annular flange on the cap. member are concentric to the hollow shaft. A disc-like member l spaced from the cap is fixed to th hollow'shaft adjacent the stationary support and is provided with an outwardly flaring portion H and an annular axially extending flange [2. The inner and outer walls of the annular flange on the disk member are concentric t the hollow shaft.

A spool-like member having end flanges l3 portion 13 of the end flange E4, the general I is tangent to a surface of revolution having a straight line generatrix and the axis of which is the center line of the hollow shaft. The axis of each roller is canted a slight amount in its separate plane. As shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, the line XX is the axis of the hollow shaft and the line YY is the axis of a roller. The axes of the rollers are all canted the same amount and in the same direction circumferentially of the spool on which the rollers are carried. The slots in the end flanges. of the spool are of the same depth and the slots in one flange are slightly offset or advanced circumferentially in the same direction with respect to the slots in the other flange.

Where the diameter of the end flange i3 is the same as that of the outer wall of the annular periphery of the spool and the rollers carried thereon is cylindrical. In order to permit thread carried on the thread advancing device to be either stretched or relaxed the general periphery of the spool and the rollers carried thereon may be arranged in the form of a frustum of a cone or tapered by having the outerdiameter of the annular portion 18 on the end flange I4 of the spool different from the diameter of the end flange It. The amount of taper is determined by the difference in the diameters of the flanges of the spool on which the rollers are mounted.

:A sleeve or sheath of flexible, relatively thin,

( readily stretchable elastic material such as natu- 7 disk by the ring clamping means 23.

and i4 and a barrel [5 is centrallyan'd rotatably mounted on the hollow shaft on the bearings I6 and IT and is positioned between the disk and cap members fixed to the shaft. The end flange l3 of the spool is positioned against the disk member and enclosed by the annular flange on the disk member. The other end flange [4 of the spool is formed with an axially extending annular portion l8 that is. enclosed by theannular flange of the. cap member. Gear teeth 19 are cut in the inner wall of the annular portion ill. of the end flange to form an internal gear therein. The diameter of the end flange I3 is slightly less than the inner diameter of the annular flange l2 on the disk member, and the outer diameter of the annular portion iii of the end flange I4 is slightly less than the inner diameter of the annular flange 9 of the cap; so that the spool may be rotated relative to the hollow shaft about the axis thereof.

.A plurality of freely revolvable axially extending cylindrical rollers 28 are carried by the spool. The rollers are provided with centrally positioned stub shafts that extend beyond the ends of the rollers and are journalled in radial slots 2| in the, periphery of each of the end flanges of the spool and retained by the flanges on the cap and disk member. The rollers are of such. diameter that they extend a slight amount radially outwardly beyond the outer wall of the annular flanges on the disk and cap members.

roller revolves extends in a separate planeth'at ral rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic or the like having a cylindrical portion 22 is positioned over the rollers and is fixed all around at one end to the cap and all around at the other end to the As shown in the drawing the sheath may have a dome shaped end 24 to cover the cap and the cylindrical portion may extend over the outwardly flared portion of the disk. The cylindrical portion of the sheath is of such diameter that it will smoothly engage a, portion of the periphery of each of the rollers throughout the length of each of the rollers and still have some residual elasticity. The ring clamping means are each spaced a short distance from the adjacent ends of the rollers. A pulley member 25 is fixed to the hollow shaft and is driven by the belt means 26 driven by a suitable drive pulley that is not shown.

A central shaft 21 is centrally and rotatably mounted in the hollow shaft in the bearings 28. A spur gear 29 is fixed to the end of the central shaft in the chamber formed by the annular portion 18 on the end flange [4 of the spool and the plate member. A segment of the annular portion 5 is cut away as shown at 30 in Figure 2 to provide a space for the'pinion 3| that is pivotally mounted therein on a short shaft extending into the enlarged section of the hollow shaft and the plate member 6. The gear teeth of the pinion are in mesh with both the gear teeth on the spur gear and the gear teeth of the internal gear cut in the inner wall of the annular portion l8 of the end flange l4. A pulley 32 is fixed to the central shaft and is driven by the belt means 33 driven by a suitable drive pulley that is not shown.

, In the operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawing, the hollow shaft is rotated by the pulley fixed thereto and the disk member, cap, pinion, and the elastic sleeve are rotated together with the hollow shaft about the axis thereof with the in they same direction or .inopposite directions.

As a result, the elastic sleeve causes the rollers to revolve about-their axes. The portion of the elastic sleeve that is in engagement with a roller moves in a path that is at right angles to the roller. The rollers being canted with respect to the axis of thehollow shaft which is the axis of the thread advancing device, the path, of the portion of the elastic sleeve in engagementwith the roller is at an angle to a plane perpendicular-tothe axis of the thread advancing device, and has a component that isaxially of the de vice. This angle is the same as the angle at which the rollers are canted. The portion of the elastic sleeve between the fixed end of the sleeve and the adjacent end of the roller. is stretched inanaxial direction as the portion of the sleeve in engagement with the roller continues to travel with the roller. As soon asthe portion of the sleeve thateengages the rollerpasses beyond the roller it is retracted in an axialdirection. nee;

to the moving of part of the sleeve in contact with a roller in the one direction and the retraction of an adjacent portion of the sleeve in the opposite direction, the" portion of. the sleeve. between rollers is distorted or bowed inwardly outv of .contact with thread advancing device. v i Referring to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings wherein is shown diagrammatically the path of' movement of the thread and thread carrying sleeve over the rollers, the'elastic sleeve moves relative. to and in engagement with the'roller's causing-them to revolve about their a es; The sleeve engages each roller over an appreciable portion of the periphery thereof, a distance in,- dicated by reference character A, with sufficient traction that the portion of the sleeve in contact with a rollerfand the thread carried thereon move with the roller in a path at right angles to the axis of that roller which is canted at an angle tothe axis of the thread advancing device.

Thepo'rtion of the "sleeve passing between the rollers indicated byreference character B is out of contactwith the thread and is retracted longitudinally of the thread advancing device. The

sleeve approaches 'each'roller while moving in a path at right angles to the axis of the thread advancing device. The portion of the sleeve in contact with'the roller causes the roller to rotate under the sleeve. and due to the inclination of the axis ofthe' roller the portion of the sleeve engaging'the roller is given a motion lengthwise or axially lof the device. As the turns of thread around the device are supported by the portions of the sleeve which are continuously being moved longitudinally, they are carried from the end of the device Where they are wound on to the end of the device where they are Wound off. The'rollers move under the sleeve causing a continuous wave motion, the crests being on the rollers and the troughs between them. The crests have an axial component in the direction in which the yarn loops are being conveyed, the troughs an, axial component in the opposite direction. The'axial.spacing of the turns of thread:

passing over the thread,

on the device is the amountthe thread is advanced in an axial or'longitudinal direction for each revolution of the sleeve member'with the hollow shaft. This" spacing is determined by the degree. to which the rollers are canted, the num-t. berlof rollers, their size andgthe difference ,be-' tween the-rate at which the sleeve and the spool carrying the rollers are revolvedv relative to each.

other.

The sleeve member may belmade by molding the rubber or plastic in cylindrical form or may be made by. joining together the ends of a sheet of material. The sleeve member may be made of a single layer of material of sufiicient thickness ormay be. made of a plurality of concentric layers of 1 material joinedtogetherthroughout. To insure the flexing inwardly of the portions of the sleeve'member passing between the rollers, the

sleeve member may be made on acyli-ndrical form-and then turned inside out.-.. a i i To increase the bowing or flexing inwardly .of the sleeve, means may be provided to form "a vacuum: within the device surrounded by the sleeve member. Themeahs comprises aconduitn in thecentral shaft connected to the spacebetween the central shaft and the. sleeve member by pas-s from which it is removed;v The direction the turns: .of thread advance on the device depends on'the direction the rollers are canted and on the directionthe device is rotated. Y i

Where theturnsof threadon a device are subjected :to fluid treatment, the sleeve member being at the periphery of the device, the fluid is prevented from going into .the device and .cor-.. roding internal parts but is kept at the periphery of the device on the sleeve member Where the thread is carried. .3 i

Agroup of these devices may be arranged together with a traveling thread passing over the devices in sequence while being subjectedto various liquid treatments. The devices may be arranged inside by side relation as shown in Figure 8 with ;each of the devices driven by a sepa-, rate drive means with adjacent devices advance ing thethread in opposite directions so that a thread removed from'the discharge end of one may be passed directly to thetake up end of the other.; A plurality of the thread advancing devices may be arranged in a circle as shownin Figure 9 with a single belt means 33 for driving the central shafts of adjacent devices in opposite directions and a single belt means, not shown, fordriving the hollow shafts of adjacent devices in opposite directions. y

In another embodiment of this invention, a

the same and are shown in Figure 7. Each de-.

The lower portion of deand the upper portion of device 55 are.

vice comprises a hollow shaft 60 that is fixed to the hollow shaft of the adjacent device in axial alignment therewith through a disk-like member 63- and the-assembly ofshafts are rotatably supported in a bearing means 6|. A pulley 62 is' fixed to the hollow shaft adjacent the bearing means" and is adapted tobe driven by suitable means not shown to rotate the hollow shaft assembly about an axis common to the hollow shaft of each reel. The disk-likemember is concentric with: the hollow shafts fixed thereto and is provided with axially extending annular flanges 6.4 and 65 and with an outwardly flared portion 66.. The upper end of each hollow shaft as shown is formed with an enlarged section provided with an annular portion 1-, concentric with the axis of the shaft. A sleeve-like member 68 of relatively thin flexible elastic, readily stretchable material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic or the like'is fixed at each end to the outer periphery of a disk-like member by a ring clamping means 69. Instead of separate sleeve members, a single sleeve member of sufficient lengthto cover all the reels may be used with means for clamping the long sleeve member to the disk-like members and the cap member.

Each thread advancing device is provided with a spool member having a barrel 10, a lower end flange 11!, and an upper end flange T2 concentrically mounted on the hollow shaft on thebear ing members 13 and 14 to rotate about the hollow shaft. The upper end flange is provided with an axially extending annular portion 15 the outer wall of which is of slightly less diameter than the inner wall of the surrounding axially extending flange 64. A plurality of rollers 11 are rotatably mounted adjacent the peripheries of the end flanges of the spool. Radial slots are formed in the end flanges in which the rollers are journalled. The slots in one flange are offset or advan'ced circumferentially of the slots in the other end'flange so the rollers are canted. The flanges on the disk-like members retain the rollers in position 1 v The rollers extend radially beyond the peripheries of the disk members and engage the sleevelike member. A segment of the annular portion 6-1 of the enlarged section of the hollow shaft is cut away to provide space for the pinion 81 that ispivotally mounted on the enlarged section of the hollow shaft to be carried with the hollow shaft about the axis of the hollow shaft. The pinion meshes with an internal gear cut in the inner wall of the axially extending annular portion 15 on the upperend flange of the spool. A central shaft 18 extends through the reel membersand is centrally and rotatably mounted on the bearings 19 in the hollow shaft. Spur gear 80 is flxed to the central shaft within the enlarged section of the hollow shaft and in mesh with the pinion 81. A pulley BI is fixed to the central shaft and is driven by suitable means not shown.

The centralshaft and the hollow shafts are rotated by the pulleys and turns of thread are advanced axially on each device in the same manner as on the device shown in Figures 1 to 3. The thread is directed from one device to the next by suitable guide means which are not shown. The flared portions of the disk-like members prevent liquid applied to one device from flowing to the next device.

Although the devices are shown in Figures 6 and 7 and are described asex-tending vertically they can be positioned to extendhorizontally or inclined.

While preferred embodiments have been shown, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A thread advancing device comprising a sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material, a plurality of rotatable roller members extending lengthwise of the sleeve, positioned in engagement with the inner wall of the sleeve, and means engaging a portion of the sleeve for moving the wall of the sleeve in a closed path over the roller members.

2. A thread advancing device comprising a sleeve member of flexible elastic material, a plurality ofrotatable roller members extending lengthwise of the sleeve, positioned in engagement with the inner wall of the sleeve, means for moving the roller members in a closed path, and means engaging a portion of the sleeve for moving the Wall of the sleeve in a closed path over the roller members.

3. A thread advancing device comprising a longitudinally extending sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material, a plurality of rotatable roller members extending lengthwise of the sleeve, positioned in engagement with the inner wall of the sleeve, means engaging a portion of the sleeve for moving the wall of the sleeve over the rollers in a closed path about an axis.

4. A thread advancing device comprising a longitudinally extending sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material, a plurality of rotatable roller members, extending lengthwise of the sleeve, positioned in engagement with the inner wall of the sleeve, means for rotating the roller members about a longitudinally extending axis and means engaging a portion of the sleeve for moving the wall of the sleeve in a closed path over the roller members.

5. A thread advancing device comprising a sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material. a plurality .of rotatable roller members extending lengthwise of the sleeve, a carrier member on which the roller members are rotatably mounted and positioned in engagement with the inner wall of the sleeve, means for moving the carrier member and the roller members in a closed path and means engaging a portion of the sleeve for moving the wall of the sleeve in a closed path over the roller members.

6. A thread advancing device comprising a rotatable carrier member, a plurality of longitudinally' extending roller members rotatably mounted on the carrier member adjacent the periphery thereof. means for rotating the carrier member and. the roller members mounted thereon about an axis, a longitudinally extending sleevelike member of flexible elastic material positioned over the carrier member and in engagement with the, roller members, and means for moving the wall of the sleeve-like member in a closed path over the roller members.

7. A thread advancing device comprising a rotatabl carrier member having a central axis, a plurality of longitudinally extending roller members rotatably mounted on the carrier member adjacent the periphery thereof, means for rotating the carrier member and the roller members mounted thereon about the central axis of the carrier member, a longitudinally extending sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material positioned over the carrier member and in engagement with the roller members mounted .9. thereon, and means engaging a portion of the sleeve-like member for rotating the sleeve-like member relative to the carrier member. Y

8. A thread advancing device comprising a rotatable carrier member having a central axis, a plurality of longitudinally extending roller members rotatably mounted on the carrier member adjacent the periphery thereof, means for rotatin the carrier member and the roller members mounted thereon about the central axis of the carrier member, a longitudinally extending sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material positioned over the carrier member and in engagement with the roller members mounted thereon, and means engaging a portion of the sleeve-like member for rotating the sleeve-like member about the axis of the carrier member relative to the carrier member.

9. A thread advancing device comprising a sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material, a plurality of laterally spaced rotatable roller members extending lengthwise of the sleeve and positioned in engagement with the inner wall of the sleeve, means engaging a portion of the sleeve for moving the wall of the sleeve in a closed path over the roller members, and means for drawing inwardly portions of the sleeve extending between roller members.

10. A thread advancing device comprisin a rotatable carrier member having a central axis and a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extendin roller members rotatably supported adjacent each end on the carrier member and adjacent the periphery of the carrier member, means for rotating the carrier member and the roller members mounted thereon about the central axis of the carrier member, a longitudinally extending sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material positioned over the carrier member and in engagement with the roller members mounted thereon, and means for rotating the sleeve-like member relativ to the carrier member about the axis of the carrier member.

11. A thread advancing device comprising a rotatable carrier member having a central axis and a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending roller members rotatably supported adjacent each end on the carrier member and adjacent the periphery of the carrier member, means for rotating the carrier member and the roller members mounted thereon about the central axis of the carrier member, and a longitudinally extending sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material positioned over the carrier member and in engagement with the roller members mounted thereon, and means for rotating the sleeve-like member relative to the carrier mem her about the axis of the carrier member, the means for rotating the carrier member and. the sleeve member comprising concentric shafts extending axially of the thread advancing device.

2. A thread advancing device comprising a plurality of rotatable carrier members each having a central axis, the carrier members being longitudinally spaced and positioned in axial alignment, a plurality of longitudinally extending roller members rotatably mounted on each of the carrier members adjacent the peripheries thereof, means for rotating the carrier members and the roller members mounted thereon together about the central axis of the carrier members, a longitudinally extending sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material positioned over the carrier members and in engagement with the rollers mounted thereon, and means for rotat- 10 ing the sleeve-like member relative to the carrier members about the axis of the carrier members.

13. A thread advancing device on which thread may be subjected to fluid treatment comprising a longitudinally extending sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material, means for forming a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending undulations in the sleeve-like member, means for stretching and moving the crests of the undulationsin a direction longitudinally of the sleevelike member to move turns of thread supported thereon longitudinally of the device.

14. A thread advancing device comprising a sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material, a plurality of laterally spaced rotatable roller members extending lengthwise of the sleeve and positioned in engagement with the inner wall of the sleeve, and rotatable means spaced from the roller members engaging a portion of the sleeve for moving the wall of the sleeve in a closed path over the roller members.

15. A thread advancing device comprising a plurality of rotatable carrier members each having a central axis, interconnected supporting means for the carrier members positioning the carrier members in axial alignment, a plurality of longitudinally extending roller members rotatably mounted on the carrier members adjacent the peripheries thereof, means comprising an axially extending shaft for rotating the carrier members and the roller members thereon together about the central axis of the carrier members, a single longitudinally extending sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material positioned over the carrier members and in engagement with the roller members mounted thereon, and longitudinally spaced means engaging portions of the sleeve-like member for rotating the sleeve-like member relative to the carrier members about the axes of the carrier members.

16. A thread advancing device on which thread may be subjected to fluid treatment comprising a longitudinally extending sleeve-like member of flexible elastic material, means for forming a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending undulations in the sleeve-like member, means for stretching and moving the crests of the undulations in a direction longitudinally of the sleeve-like member to move turns of thread supported thereon longitudinally of the device, and means engaging a portion of the sleeve-like member for retracting the stretched portions of the sleeve-like member.

17. A thread advancing device on which thread may be subjected to fluid treatment comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending members, means for moving portions of the longitudinally extending members in a direction having a longitudinally extending component, means for preventing the entrance of treating fluids into the thread advancing device and for maintaining the treating fluid in contact with turns of thread wound on the device comprising a longitudinally extending flexible elastic sleeve-like member positioned over and in engagement with the longitudinally extending members.

18. A thread advancing device on which thread may be subjected to fluid treatment comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending rotatable roller members each canted with respect to an axis, means for rotating the roller members together about the axis, means for preventing the entrance of treating fluids into the thread advancing device and for maintaining the treating fluid in contact with turns of thread wound on the device comprising a, longitudinally extencl- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing flexible elastic sleeve-like member positioned Number Name Date over and; in engagement with the rollers, and 1920224 Weaver Aug 1 1933 means engaging a portion of the sleeve-like mem- 2:020057 Hartmann 1935 her for moving the wall of the sleeve-like mem- 5 2,338,755- Cole Jan. 1944 her in a closed path over the rollers. I 2,424,489 Moritz July 1947 WILLIAM FURNESS- 2,578,330 Kohorn Dec. 11, 1951 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent: 

